Raining alternate
hours and warm. Had a chill this morning, and afterward several spells of
blindness, from rushes of blood to the head. Came home and bathed my feet and
recovered.
Another disaster!
but no great loss of men. Gen. Early was compelled to retreat again on
Thursday, 22d inst., the enemy flanking him, and getting in his rear. He lost
12 more guns. This intensifies the chagrin and doubts prevalent in a certain
class of the community. However, Lee commands in Virginia, and there may be
better luck next time, which will cause everybody's spirits to rise.
Gen. Lee writes a
long letter to the Secretary of War, deprecating the usage of the port of
Wilmington by the Tallahassee and other cruisers, that go out and ravage the
enemy's commerce, such as the destruction of fishing smacks, etc. Already the
presence of the Tallahassee and the Edith at Wilmington has caused the loss of
one of our blockade-runners, worth more than all the vessels destroyed by the
Tallahassee, and the port is now guarded by such an additional number of
blockaders that it is with difficulty our steamers can get in with supplies. Gen.
L. suggests that Charleston or some other port be used by our cruisers; and
that Wilmington be used exclusively for the importation of supplies—
quartermaster's, commissary's ordnance, etc. Gen. L. advises that supplies
enough for two or three years be brought in, so that we shall not be under
apprehension of being destitute hereafter. Such were his ideas. Lieut. Wood,
who commands the Tallahassie, is the President's nephew, and gains eclat by his
chivalric deeds on the ocean; but we cannot afford to lose our chances of
independence to glorify the President's nephew. Gen. Lee but reiterates what
has been written on the same subject by Gen. Whiting at Wilmington.
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